Minister Trenggono Wants Indonesia To Become The Largest Shrimp Producer In The World, Prabowo: I Appreciate It

Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. (Photo: Doc. KKP)

JAKARTA - Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono targets Indonesia to become the largest vaname shrimp producer in the world with a total production of 16 million tons per year. This commitment is demonstrated by the opening of shrimp ponds covering an area of 200 thousand hectares until 2024.

As is well known, currently Indonesia is one of the top five shrimp producers in the world with a production volume of less than 1 million tons per year. While the top position is held by China. Then, followed by Ecuador, Vietnam and India.

"If we succeed in building 200 thousand hectares of shrimp ponds with two harvest cycles of 80 tons per hectare per year, then in one year the economic analysis can generate nearly Rp1,200 trillion," he said, in a written statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Wednesday, January 13th.

According to Trenggono, the implications of the construction of a 200 hectare shrimp pond are not only to make Indonesia the number one shrimp producer in the world, but also to be able to build a strong defense system to protect Indonesia's maritime wealth.

"If this is realized, imagine how many defense forces we can build. It's not difficult if we want to strengthen our defense equipment," he said.

Furthermore, said Trenggono, building a strong defense system, especially in the maritime sector, is very important, because most of Indonesia's territory is a sea. The impact is not only for sovereignty but also for protecting marine wealth from illegal fishing by foreign vessels and destructive fishing.

"My 1 year and 2 months as Deputy Defense Minister helped Pak Prabowo, I learned a lot that national defense is something very important," he explained.

Build a Fishing Village

Apart from ponds, the KKP will also build aquaculture villages in several parts of Indonesia to improve the community's economy. Such as Kampung Lele, Kampung Patin, Kampung Udang to Kampung Kakap.

Trenggono said, KKP will work together with local governments in realizing this development.

"In the future we have to design in one area with the regional government, where the process is upstream to downstream. We just need to arrange the financing from the private sector or the state that is present," he explained.

The two activities, said Minister Trenggono, are the superior programs of the ministry which he leads. This is in line with the tagline of developing sustainable aquaculture. Not only that, research and cultivation technology will also be strengthened so that production activities do not interfere with environmental sustainability.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto appreciated the KKP's strategic steps prepared by Minister Trenggono in an effort to improve the economy and national defense.

"If we cooperate very well, our strength will rise significantly, so that we become a power in the world. We can be sovereign, intact. I really appreciate his support," said Defense Minister Prabowo.